Dîner En Blanc - Pittsburgh 2015

Update 10/02/15: The official Diner en Blanc Pittsburgh 2015 video is here thanks to Skinny Tie Media!

Cool concept. Cool location. Cool music.  Cool party. Yes, it was one of the coolest gigs ever.  The Dîner En Blanc - or Dinner In White - is a unique pop-up event where there is mystery and carefully set rules that make for a one-of-a-kind experience. On Friday night September 11 I was part of that "Wow" experience in Gateway Center Downtown Pittsburgh.  Started in Paris among friends this event has grown to be a work-wide phenomenon attract over 100,000 people over the years. The plan is simple. Guests gather at pre-set meeting points and then are brought to the mystery location which has been kept secret by those in-the-know.  I had to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement and was not told the location until days before.  Even my wife was kept in the dark until the party started. All attendees had to wear white - not cream or ivory - and bring their own white tables and chairs.  They had the choice of bringing their own food or pre-ordering a catered dinner from Bella Sera Catering in Canonsburg. Only white wine or champagne was allowed. 

So, at 6:30pm the group leaders led 1,000 guests into Gateway Center and instructed them where to set up. Men were placed on one side of the table and women on the other. During the first half hour I rocked out on the Electric Violin to Bruno Mars, Boston, Imagine Dragons, ELO and more. At 7:00 all the white napkins were waved to signal the beginning of the meal. That's when I switched to a more mellow set of Louis Armstrong, Sting, Train,and Alicia Keys. Once people started gathering near the white tent for dancing I cranked it up again with Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Tom Petty and finished by accompanying a dance company with a Hip-Hop track called "Gangster Life", "Only Time" by Enya and "Zum Astra" from the Cirque De Soleil show "Zumanity". From there DJ Nugget took over and the dance party hit high gear. Other than having to ask a few people to get out of the fountain, the guests enjoyed a very sophisticated but energetic evening. Hope they invite me back next year!

Want to read more about the first ever Dîner En Blanc in Pittsburgh? Here's some links to the local press:

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/seen/2015/09/14/Diner-en-Blanc/stories/201509120158

http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/current-features/diner-en-blanc-pittsburgh/

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/09/11/diner-en-blanc-pittsburgh/

https://instagram.com/p/7gpHZ0n3ON/

Great shot of me at the beginning of this KDKA News video!

#DEBPittsburgh2015 #DinerEnBlancPIT #DinerEnBlanc #PittsburghWeddingMusic